Barcelona ready to pull lever for Messi as ‘donkey’ threat made

Robin Bairner

• 20 Apr 2023 14:44 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are ready to step up their attempts to re-sign Lionel Messi in the summer by pulling another economic lever to help ease their financial problems.

Although Messi is out of contract with PSG in the summer after two years at Parc des Princes, there are doubts as to whether Barcelona can afford to sign him because of their financial position.

In order to comply with LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, they have been ordered to raise €200 million before the end of June else they could potentially face a registration ban on new players this summer – including Messi.

MORE: Barcelona finalising Lionel Messi contract offer

According to Marca, Barca are ready to pull another financial lever to ensure Messi can return.

The club is plotting a resale of its audio-visual rights, which they sold to Orpheus Media and Socios.com last summer. Each company bought 24.5% for €100 million – a figure that Barca felt was below market value but had to accept due to the pressing nature of the timescale. This plan leans on two companies being interested in a deal and willing to pay more money.

Although Marca will not commit to a vale that Barcelona expect to get, it believes Barca could receive €300m.

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’Tebas would be a donkey if he didn’t help us sign Messi

Barcelona have been critical of LaLiga for being inflexible with their FFP rules, but vice-president Juli Guiu has claimed that Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish League, would be crazy not to help his side lure Messi back to the country.

“He is still the number one footballer in the world, without a doubt. Erling Haaland does not have the pull that Messi has. It is clear that his return would be a marketing boost, but that doesn't mean he's going to come back,” he told RAC1.

“Tebas would be a donkey if he doesn't help us for Messi.”

Barcelona are reportedly close to having a draft contract in place to present to Messi’s entourage and LaLiga for approval.